Esa Pethman, born on May 17, 1938, in Kuusankoski, Finland, was a Finnish jazz musician known for his skills as a saxophonist and flutist. He began playing these instruments as a teenager with his brother Anssi in local dance bands. In 1959, Pethman moved to Helsinki to study music at the Sibelius Academy. His career took off quickly as he joined studio sessions and top orchestras in Helsinki, eventually becoming a member of the Finnish Radio Dance Orchestra. He released his first album under his own name, The Modern Sound of Finland, in 1965. In June 1967, Pethman's quintet was sent to the first Montreux Jazz Festival, where they placed fourth out of twelve participants and received an honorable mention. Notable albums include Esa & Flutes (1984) and Esamba (1986). Pethman passed away on March 18, 2025, in Hämeenlinna.
